Mounting for tapping conduit plug drill



April 2, 1968 J. w. ADAMS 3,376,030

MOUNTING FOR TAPPING CONDUIT PLUG DRILL Filed July 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 3 22 W q Z72 4 5e Q, 60 L I o 547 l ll 1 62 I, I8/ I 42 2 32 28 26 l6 F/G.

INVENTOR JOHN W ADAMS F/G. 3

Aprii 2, 1968 J. w. ADAMS 3,376,030

MGUNTING FOR TAPPING CONDUIT PLUG DRILL Filed July 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 56 36 @lmmmuullnllulllnulllu'llg 38 24 H l. .2 52 m x26 M3872 32 3O '8 65 FIG 5 44 42 INVENTOR JOHN W ADAMS United States Patent 3,376,030 MOUNTING FOR TAPPING CONDUIT PLUG DRILL John W. Adams, Milford, NJ., assignor to Ingersoll-Rand fompany, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New ersey Substituted for abandoned application Ser. No. 162,332, Dec. 27, 1961. This application July 19, B65, Ser. No. 473,114

6 Claims. (Cl. 266-42) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for drilling an opening through a plugged furnace tapping hole, comprising a telescoping motor extensible towards and retractable awayfrom the tapping hole, and a drill pivotally carried by the motor. A guide means, comprising a guide track and a roller connected to the motor, is provided for causing operation of the motor to raise and lower the drill; and link means is connected to the drill for causing the latter to be pivoted during the operation of the motor.

The disclosure This is a substitute application for application Ser. No. 162,332, filed Dec. 27, 1961, now abandoned, and entitled, Mounting for Tapping Conduit Plug Drill.

This invention relates to furnace tapping apparatus and more particularly to a novel device for drilling an opening through a plugged furnace tapping hole to enable molten metal to be discharged from the furnace through such hole.

In open hearth furnace operations the tapping hole is plugged or filled with dolomite or the like, the dolomite being in general manually packed in the tapping hole. Before a casting run, an opening must be drilled through the hardened and baked plug in the tapping hole and through the shell close to the metal to form a discharge passage therethrough for the molten metal to be discharged from the furnace into a downwardly slanting trough. Heretofore, procedures have been followed for removing the plug from the tapping hole requiring the operators to work close to the trough and tapping hole and, consequently, being subjected to the incidental dangers of flying sparks and extreme heat of flowing molten metal.

Several attempts have been made to improve the above operations by providing drilling or cutting devices. With these devices, however, it frequently happens that the metal flows before the drilling or cutting tool can be removed, resulting in damage of the tool and thus increasing maintenance cost.

Another ditficulty encountered with the use of the aforementioned devices is the location thereof with respect to their effective operation. Usually the devices are positioned close to and in front of the runner trough, thereby obstructing a substantial part of the working area in front of the furnace.

An object of this invention is to provide a tapping hole plug drilling machine which can be safely and accurately controlled from points remote from the tapping hole and runner trough to drill through the plug in the tapping hole and metal skull at the inner end of the tapping hole, and to be rapidly retracted after drilling operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tapping hole plug drilling machine positioned so as to form no obstruction in the working area in front of the furnace.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tapping hole plug drilling machine which is simple, durable and efiicient.

3,376,039 Patented Apr. 2, 1963 For a complete understanding of this invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the tapping hole plug drilling machine in an inoperative position,

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the tapping hole plug drilling machine shown in FIG. 1,

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the tapping hole plug drilling machine in an operative position,

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the tapping hole plug drilling machine in an operative position, and

FIGURE 5 is a top view of an alternate structure of the tapping hole plug drilling machine shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, numeral designates a furnace, partly shown, having a tapping hole 12 in front of which is positioned a runner trough 14 having upstanding side walls 16, 18 for receiving and conducting the molten metal produced by the furnace. A supporting structure 20 is mounted on the front wall 22, partly shown, of the furnace including a base plate 24 to which is connected a pivot joint 26. An extendible boom structure 28 of a commonly known telescoping motor type, including a cylinder 30 and an extension arm 32 movably connected thereto, is mounted on pivot joint 26 to pivot in a vertical plane. Boom structure 28 is positioned substantially horizontally in a plane above tapping hole 12, and substantially parallel to front wall. 22 of furnace 10.

The forward end portion of extension arm 32 is pro vided with a transverse shaft 34 to which is connected a roller 36, the latter being supported by aguide 3 8 including a track of channel iron connected to front wall 22 of the furnace. Guide 38, including channel iron 40, supports extension arm 32 during its forward and rearward movement towards and away from the tapping hole 12 and runner trough 14.

Since the rear end of boom structure 28 is pivotally mounted on pivot joint 26, the rate of movement in a vertical plane, i.e., lowering and raising of the forward end or" boom structure 28 is controlled by the contour of guide 38, as will be explained hereinafter in connection with lowering the drill for drilling through the plug in tapping hole 12, and raising the drill for fast withdrawal thereof after such drilling operations to prevent the drill H from being damaged by the molten metal flowing from tapping hole 12.

At the forward end of extension arm 32 of boom structure 23 is pivotally mounted a drifter type drill mounting 42 including a drill carrier 44 slidably carrying a percussive type drill motor 46 which is actuated forwardly and rearwardly by means of a telescopic type feed motor (not shown) in a commonly known manner. Drill motor 46 actuates a drill steel 50 operatively connected thereto having a drill bit 51 provided at its forward end to drill through the plug in tapping hole 12 when the drill mounting is properly aligned with the tapping hole, as will be described hereinafter.

The forward end portion of drill carrier 44 is provided with an upright shaft 52 having its upper end portion rotatably connected to extension arm 32, and its lower end portion rigidly connected to drill carrier 44, for pivotally connecting drill carrier 44 to extension arm 32 so as to permit drill carrier 44 to be pivoted in a substantially horizontal plane from an inoperative position parallel to boom structure 28, to an operative drilling position substantially perpendicular to boom structure 28.

Horizontal pivotal movement of drill carrier 44 is achieved in response to longitudinal movement of extension arm 32 by employing a stop rod 54 having its forward end pivotally connected to an arm 56 which is rigidly mounted on the forward end portion of drill carrier 44.

Stop rod 54 is provided at its rear end portion with two stop nuts 58 and 60 longitudinally spaced from each other, the rod portion between stop nuts 58 and 69 being slidably carried by a boss 62, rigidly connected to the forward end of cylinder 30.

The length of stop rod 54 and the position of stop nuts 58 and 60 relative to each other and relative to arm 56 is such that when extension arm 32 is moved forwardly while drill carrier 44 is positioned parallel to boom structure 28 (in inoperative position as shown in FIG. 2), stop nut 61) abuts boss 62 after extension arm 32 has traveled a predetermined portion of its stroke. When stop nut 60 abuts boss 62 while extension arm 32 is moving forwardly, movement of stop rod 54 is halted, and since stop rod 54 is pivotally connected to arm 56 of drill carrier 44, halting of stop rod 54 causes drill carrier 44 to pivot about the axis of shaft 52. The stroke of extension arm 32 is so controlled that forward movement of extension arm 32 is halted when drill carrier 44 has pivoted 90 about the axis of shaft 52 from a position parallel to boom structure 28, see FIG. 2, to a position rectangular to boom structure 28, see FIG. 3.

When extension arm 32 is retracted, stop rod 54 is actuated rearwardly causing stop nut 58 to abut boss 62 while extension arm 32 continues to move rearwardly. This causes drill carrier 44 to pivot 90 from its drilling position rectangular to boom structure 28, see FIG, 3, into its inoperative position parallel to boom structure 28, see FIG. 2.

Boom structure 28, when inoperative in a retracted position, is positioned horizontally at a height such that when extension arm 32 is moved either forwardly or rearwardly, drill carrier 44 clears upstanding side wall 16 of runner trough 14- when drill carrier 44 is, respectively, moved into or withdrawn from its drilling position. Since, during drilling operations, the forward end portion of drill carrier 44, including drill steel 50 and drill bit 51, is to be positioned between the upstanding walls 16, 18 and close to the bottom of runner trough 14, means is provided to automatically lower the drill carrier and drill steel extending therefrom after the drill carrier has cleared side wall 16 of trough 14 during forward movement of the drill carrier into drilling position. This means includes a camming device in the form of a track of channel iron 64 extending from channel iron 40 and slanting downwardly. Slanting channel iron 64 also serves to rapidly withdraw drill carrier 44 after drilling operations of the drill from its position close to the bottom of trough 14 by raising the drill carrier when the drill carrier is actuated rearwardly by extension arm 32.

In operation, drill carrier 44 is actuated into drilling position by forward movement of extension arm 32, guide 38 directing the forward end of extension arm 32 including drill carrier 44 horizontally along the horizontally positioned channel iron 40, see FIG. 4. When extension arm 32 is actuated further forwardly and roller 36 is at the forward end of horizontally positioned channel iron 40, drill carrier 44 is moved from a position parallel to boom structure 28, see FIG. 2, into a position rectangular to boom structure 28, see FIG. 3, by means of the arrangement of stop rod 54 including its stop nut 60 cooperating with boss 62 as explained hereinbefore. When drill carrier 44 is moved into a position rectangular to boom structure 28, the drill carrier is positioned over runner trough 14, whereafter guide 38 guides roller 36, including extension arm 32 and drill carrier 44, downwardly along slanting channel iron 64 of guide 38 until drill carrier is positioned in drilling alignment with tapping hole 12.

After drilling operations, the drill carrier is rapidy withdrawn by rearward movement of extension arm 32, causing roller 36 to ride up against slanting channel iron 64 to rapidly raise the drill carrier away from the runner trough through which the molten metal flows. When the drill carrier is raised it is guided further rearwardly by 4 roller 36 along horizontally positioned channel iron 40 of guide 38, and by means of the arrangement of stop 54 including its stop nut 58 cooperating with boss 62 as explained hereinbefore, the drill carrier is actuated into a position parallel to boom structure 28.

An alternate means for actuating drill carrier 44 to rotate about the axis of shaft 52 in response to movement of extension arm 32 is shown in FIG. 5, the stop rod 54 and arm 56 arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 being replaced by a worm gear operatively connected to shaft 52 and driven by roller 36, as will be explained hereinafter. A Worm wheel 66 (partly shown) is connected to drive shaft 52 by means of a worm 68, connected to drive worm Wheel 66, a sprocket wheel 70 connected thereto, a chain 72 to drive sprocket wheel 70, and a sprocket wheel 72 mounted on shaft 34 to drive chain 72. Rotation of roller 36, mounted to drive shaft 34, causes drill carrier 44 to rotate from a position parallel to extension arm 32 to a position perpendicular to arm 32 when roller 36 is moved to the left by movement to the left of extension arm 32. Drill carrier 44 is moved from a position perpendicular to extension arm 44 to a position parallel to extension arm 32 when roller 36 is moved to the right by movement to the right of extension arm 32.

It is to be noted that, since effective positioning of the drill carrier is dependent on effective rotation of roller 36, the outer periphery of roller 36 as well as the inner surface of the web of channel iron shaped guide 38 may, as shown in FIG. 5, be provided with means, such as corresponding knurls, ridges or teeth, to insure positive traction between roller 36 and the web of guide 38.

It is to be noted that camming the forward end portion of boom structure 28 (including the drill carrier) downwardly and upwardly can also be achieved by positioning guide 38 below or above the boom structure with the roller and arm support in a corresponding position.

With the arrangement of the boom structure connected to the wall of the furnace and held parallel relative thereto when operative as well as inoperative, is achieved that the entire working area in front of the furnace and runner trough is maintained unobstructed.

Thus by the above construction are accomplished, among others, the objects hereinbefore referred to.

While two embodiments of the present invention are shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a furnace having a tapping conduit, a furnace tapping apparatus comprising:

a supporting structure mounted in spaced relation to the tapping conduit;

a telescoping motor having one end portion pivotally connected to said supporting structure for vertical movement thereto and the other end portion extensible towards and retractable from the tapping conduit;

a drill carried by said other end portion for pivotal movement thereto;

link means connected to said drill for pivoting said drill to a position parallel to the tapping conduit during the extension of said other end portion and to a position lateral to the tapping conduit during the retraction of said other end portion;

a guide track mounted adjacent said motor and having at least a portion inclined; and

connecting means connected to said other end portion movable on said guide track during the extension and retraction of said other end portion, said connecting means cooperating with the inclined portion of said guide track to automatically vertically move said drill into said tapping conduit.

2. A furnace tapping apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said guide track extending laterally to the tapping conduit such that it includes an end adjacent the tapping conduit and an end remote therefrom; said adjacent end of said guide track being inclined;

and said connecting means comprising roller means connected to said other end portion and supported by said guide track. 3. A furnace tapping apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

said roller means and said guide track including cooperating protrusions for ensuring traction therebetween. 4. A furnace tapping apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

said link means including gear means connecting said drill with said roller means whereby movement of said roller means causes pivotal movement of said drill. 5. A furnace tapping apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

said link means including a stop rod pivotally connected to said drill, and means connecting said stop rod to said one end portion of said motor such that said stop rod is limitedly axially movable relative thereto.

6. A furnace tapping apparatus according to claim 2,

further comprising:

said supporting structure and said guide track being mounted along a wall of the furnace, said motor extending substantially parallel to the furnace wall, and said adjacent end of said guide track being constructed to lower said other end portion and said drill during the extension of said other end portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,276,252 8/1918 Mullen 266-42 3,121,769 2/1964 Horn 266-42 3,190,629 6/1965 Draper 266-42 3,314,671 4/1967 Heino et al. 266-42 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. E. MAR, Examiner. 

